The most photographed man in Australia

Until the 16th of August 2025, the exhibition "Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits" pays tribute to the most photographed man in Australia: Alan Adler. For 50 years, he was in charge of several photobooths in Melbourne, taking thousands of photos of himself to ensure they were working properly. This moving exhibition is dedicated to him, and also commemorates the centenary of the very first photo booth. A visit not to be missed!

Discover the life of Alan Adler at the exhibition "Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits"

Summary

A tribute to Alan Adler
100 years of photobooths
Things to know

A tribute to Alan Adler

Do you know who is the most photographed man in Australia? The Prime Minister? An actor, an athlete, or a celebrity? None of the above. It’s actually a discreet man who didn’t like fame and whose name you've probably never heard: Alan Adler. For 50 years, from 1972 to 2022, he was in charge of several photobooths in Melbourne. To ensure they were running properly, one of his duties was to regularly take pictures of himself. Making him the most photographed man in Australia!

From the 5th of June to the 16th of August 2025, the exhibition "Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits" pays tribute to this man who was the oldest and longest-serving photobooth technician in the world. His face is displayed everywhere on the gallery walls, thousands of times. He most often has his eyes closed (to protect them from the repeated aggression of the flash), but he is also in many photos smiling, grimacing, with his cat or his loved ones. Most are in black and white, which was always his preference, but a room is also dedicated to colour shots. There is something extremely touching about seeing his face evolve over the decades, from that of a 40-year-old to a 90-year-old man. Alan Adler died on December 18, 2024, at the age of 92.

2025 also marks the centenary of the very first photobooth, installed on Broadway in New York by the Russian immigrant Anatol Josepho. Another part of the exhibition explores the history of these machines, which have actually changed very little over the past century and are now true testimonies of the past. How many groups of friends, couples, or families have had their photos taken in one of them since 1925? You can imitate them by having your portrait taken while visiting this exhibition: a splendid photobooth sits right in the centre of the room.

100 years of photobooths

The most iconic of them (at least in Australia) is certainly the photobooth at Flinders Street Station. Installed in 1961, it was the first one Alan bought in 1972, and the last one still in existence of all those he ever looked after. It’s now, a young couple, Jess Norman and Chris Sutherland, that are ensuring that Melbournians can keep using it. Their story is also quite special. In 2018, during their very first date, they wanted to immortalise the moment by taking a photo of themselves. Alan had just been notified that he would have to remove this photobooth due to work at the station, and had put up a sign with his phone number reading “Please use this photobooth now. After the 23rd May, this machine will no longer be here”. Jess and Chris found it really sad and got in touch with him. The photobooth was eventually saved and relocated to its current location on Flinders Street, and in 2022, after years of learning Alan’s tricks, the couple officially took over.

Things to know

The exhibition "Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits" is open 5 days a week, from 11am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday, and 12pm to 4pm on Saturdays, until the 16th of August 2025. Access is completely free. It is located at the RMIT Gallery, 344 Swanston Street in the CBD of Melbourne. Even the steps leading up to the exhibition feature Alan's face!

Have you ever taken a photo of yourself at the Flinders Street Station photo booth? Whether you have or not, I encourage you to explore this beautiful exhibition and learn more about Alan Adler's life!